Can Severity of Pulmonary Hypertension Affect Success Rate of Balloon
Mitral Commissurotomy?
Abstract
Introduction: Rheumatic heart disease is responsible for the
most prevalent pathological causes of mitral stenosis and is closely
coupled with pulmonary hypertension. Balloon mitral commissurotomy as an
alternative method for mitral valve replacement leads to a reduction in
pulmonary pressure. All grades of pulmonary hypertension usually regress
after mitral commissurotomy; however, the insignificant changes of
pulmonary artery hypertension following balloon mitral valvuloplasty are
not uncommon. Methods: This retrospective observational study
was carried out on 160 patients with significant symptomatic mitral
stenosis (mitral valve area [MVA] <1.5 cm
2) who underwent successful percutaneous transvenous
mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) within 2016-2020 at Shaheed Rajaie
Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
Results: In this study, 89.4% of the patients were female, and
the mean age of the participants was 47.2±12.4 years. Most (74%)
patients presented with dyspnea on exertion functional class II. The
mean basic MVA was 1±0.20 cm 2 that increased to
1.43±0.23 cm 2, and the mean basic systolic pulmonary
artery pressure (PAP) was 43.84±11.93 mmHg that decreased to 35.13±7.7
mmHg. Persistent PAP after successful PTMC was observed in 34% of the
patients. This group of patients showed smaller MVA gain and PAP
reduction after the procedure. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR)
> 2 Wood units was correlated to 91.7% of the
post-procedural success rate. Conclusion: The PTMC plays an
important role in the reduction of PAP; nevertheless, the chronicity and
severity of PAP can lead to persistent pulmonary hypertension. The
assessment of initial PAP and basic PVR can help select patients with
more likely intended results.